Retaining device for slats

ABSTRACT

Retaining device for use with two elongated slats longitudinally, which are located in a chain linked fence. The device includes a cap member having a distal panel, a proximal panel and an intermediate panel interconnecting the distal and the proximal panels. A guide rail is connected to the distal panel and extends along a portion of the distal panel. Each elongated slat has a notch located in a portion of a slat end. The notch is of sufficient size to cooperate with the guide rail and to slide over it along a restricted path of travel and is retained on the guide rail.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns retaining caps, more particularly to retaining caps for use with slats that are located in chain link fences and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Chain link fencing is commonplace and is used to provide a barrier around such areas as private gardens and the like. Chain link fencing includes a network of wires that are intertwined to form a mesh of alternating generally rectilinear holes, which provide a discrete, almost invisible barrier. A number of horizontal and vertical support bars support the wire mesh. There may be times, however, when a user requires more privacy than the chain link fencing provides. A series of elongated plastic slats may be threaded through the holes to provide more privacy to the user and to improve the esthetic appearance of the chain link fence. Caps are typically placed onto the upper ends of the slats to keep the slats together and provide ornamentation to the upper end of the fence.

[0003] A few cap designs exist, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,533, issued Jul. 29, 1997 to Ling for “Cap for Chain Link Fence”. Ling's patent discloses a cap system that includes two legs having two flexible securing fingers, which appear to resiliently engage respective slats and to secure them in place. Disadvantageously, this design appears to be only suitable for hollow type slats and may not be adaptable for use with solid slats. In addition, in the above design the securing fingers may be difficult to disengage from the slats if the user needs to disengage the slats from the chain link fence. To accommodate the cap, the slats may have to be modified using difficult precision cutting techniques. Moreover, specialized mold technology may be needed to produce the caps of the above design, which may increase the cost of the caps.

[0004] Thus there is a need for an improved retainer cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention reduces the difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art by providing a simple retaining device, which can be manufactured using conventional plastic injection die technology or extrusion technology for a relatively low cost and which is easily adaptable to chain link fencing. The device provides a secure and simple means for attachment to the slat ends, thus reducing relative movement therebetween, but which can be easily dismantled if desired. In addition, the device includes a novel cap, which has a guide rail, which extends only partially along the cap. The guide rail cooperates with slat notches, which are located halfway into the ends of each slat, in such a way that a user only needs to push laterally against the slats to move them along the guide rail to a point where the guide rail abuts the blind end of the notches, thereby securing the slats. The cap cooperates with most commercially available slats, both solid and hollow types, with minimal modification to the slats. Moreover, the notches in the slat ends can be introduced using simple lateral cutting.

[0006] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a retaining device for use with two elongated slats longitudinally located in a chain linked fence, said device comprising:

[0007] a cap member having a distal panel, a proximal panel and an intermediate panel interconnecting said distal and said proximal panels;

[0008] a guide rail connected to said distal panel and extending along a portion of said distal panel; and

[0009] each elongated slat having a notch located in a portion of a slat end, said notch being of sufficient size to cooperate with said guide rail and to slide thereover along a restricted path of travel and to be retained thereon.

[0010] Typically, the guide rail includes first and second spaced apart stop ends. The guide rail further includes: a guide rail edge; and first and second retainer lips connected to said guide rail edge at about 90 degrees. The guide rail is connected to said distal panel at about 90 degrees. The first and second stop ends engage respective notches in a retaining configuration. Each notch is defined by first and second notch sidewalls and a notch blind end to abut one of said stop ends in said retaining configuration. The first and second notch sidewalls frictionally engage said guide rail.

[0011] Typically, the notch blind end is located generally centrally of the wide portion of said slat.

[0012] Typically, the intermediate panel includes: first and second intermediate panel edges; and a third retainer lip connected to said first intermediate panel edge at about 90 degrees and depends therefrom. The distal panel is connected to said second intermediate panel edge at about 90 degrees. The proximal panel is connected to said intermediate panel at a location generally equidistant between said first and second intermediate panel edges. The proximal panel is connected perpendicular to said intermediate panel.

[0013] Typically, the first, second and third retainer lips are axially aligned.

[0014] Typically, the distal panel includes first and second distal panel side edges and a distal panel bottom edge, said first and second stop ends being located away from said first and second panel edges. The first and second stop ends are located equidistant from said first and second distal panel side edges.

[0015] In an alternative first aspect of the present invention, the first and second stop ends being located adjacent said first and second distal panel side edges, said edges being of a length narrower than the intermediate panel length.

[0016] Typically, the guide rail is located generally equidistant between said distal panel bottom edge and said intermediate panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0017] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of retaining devices located in a chain link fence;

[0019]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a retaining device;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a end view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an alternative retaining device;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a retaining device in a retaining configuration;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of two solid elongated slats; and

[0024]FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway front view of the retaining device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a retaining device of the present invention is shown generally at 10. Generally speaking, the retaining device 10 includes a cap 12 and two elongated slats 14 and 16. The slats 14 and 16 are typically located adjacent each other in a chain link fence 18, where they are weaved through a plurality of rectilinear holes 20 that are defined by wire 22 and supported by a frame 23. Both the cap 10 and the slats 14, 16 are typically made of plastic, PVC, HDPE or some other lightweight, resilient and weather-resistant material known to those skilled in the art. The cap 10 is typically dimensioned so that, when in position over the slats 14, 16, it covers them and retains the slats 14, 16 in a secure manner.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cap 12 includes a distal panel 24, a proximal panel 26, an intermediate panel 28 and a guide rail (or panel) 30. The intermediate panel 28 interconnects the distal and proximal panels 24, 26.

[0027] The intermediate panel 28 includes first and second panel edges 32, 34 and a retainer lip 36. The retainer lip 36 is connected to the first intermediate panel edge 32 at about 90 degrees and depends downwardly therefrom. The distal panel 24 is connected to the second panel edge 34 at an angle of about 90 degrees. Typically, the proximal panel 26 and distal panel 24 have approximately the same dimensions. The proximal panel 26 is typically connected to the intermediate panel 28 at a location, which is generally equidistant between the intermediate edges 32, 34, and perpendicular to the intermediate panel 28. In this embodiment, the proximal panel 26 includes two concave side edges 36, 38 and a curved upper edge 40. The shape of the proximal panel 26 may of course be altered depending upon the esthetic appearance that is desired by the user. One skilled in the art will recognize that the proximal panel 26 may also be removed without deviating from the scope of the invention.

[0028] The distal panel 24 is connected to the second intermediate edge 34 at an angle, which is typically about 90 degrees. The distal panel 24 includes first and second distal panel side edges 42,44 and a distal panel bottom edge 46.

[0029] The guide rail 30 is connected to a distal panel face 48 at an angle, which is typically about 90 degrees. The guide rail includes a guide rail edge 50, two retainer lips 52, 54 and two stop ends 56, 58. Both the retainer lips 52, 54 are connected to the guide rail edge 50 at an angle, which is about 90 degrees. Typically, the guide rail retainer lips 52, 54 are axially aligned with the intermediate panel retainer lip 36.

[0030] The two stop ends 56, 58 are located apart at opposite ends of the guide rail 30. The guide rail 30 extends along a portion of the face of the distal panel 24 and is located generally equidistant between the distal panel bottom edge 46 and the intermediate panel 28. Typically, the intermediate panel 28 is longer than the guide rail 30, the stop ends 56, 58 being located away from the distal panel side edges 42, 44 and equidistant therefrom.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in a variation of the cap 12, the distal panel side edges 42, 44 are cut so that they are both adjacent the respective stops ends 56, 58. In this variation, the length of the distal panel bottom edge 46 is the same as the guide rail 30 length, both lengths being shorter than the intermediate panel 28 length.

[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, since both elongated slats 14, 16 are essentially identical, only the slat 14 will be described in detail. The elongated slat 14 includes a slat end 60, slat edges 62, 64 and respective wide slat faces 66, 68. A notch 70 is cut into a portion of the slat end 60, typically up a position equidistant between the slat edges 62, 64. The notch 70 is defined by two sidewalls 72, 74 and a blind end 76, which define a notch opening, which is of sufficient size to cooperate with the guide rail 30 and to slide over the surfaces of the guide rail 30. The movement of the guide rail 30 is restricted because of the presence of the blind end 76 abuts the stop end 56, as will be described below. The notch side walls 72, 74 frictionally engage the surfaces of the guide rail 30 and retain the guide rail thereupon. The guide rail 30 has a width that enables either thin, solid elongated slats (as shown in FIG. 6), known to those skilled in the art, to move laterally over the surface of the guide rail 30. The retainer lips 36, 52, and 54, prevent the thin elongated slats from laterally disengaging the guide rail 30 or, when hollow elongated slats (as shown in FIG. 4), known to those skilled in the art, are used form a snug fit therewith by frictionally engaging the slot faces 66, 68. Similarly, the notch 70 can be cut to various sizes to accommodate either the thin elongated slats or the hollow slats.

[0033] Operation

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 7, a typical operation of the device 10 will now be described. The user positions two slats 14, 16 adjacent each other in the chain link fence and locates the cap 12 between the two slats 14, 16. When the two notches 70 are essentially aligned with the guide rail stop ends 56, 58, the user applies a lateral force to both, or one, of the slat's edges 62, 64 and pushes them along the guide rail 30 towards the line of symmetry 78. When the slats 14, 16 have reached the cap's line of symmetry 78, the notch blind ends 76 abut the stop ends of the guide rail 56, 58 and limits or restricts further travel towards the line of symmetry 78. The outer edges 62, 64 of the slats 14, 16 are then flush with the edge of the cap 12. For disassembly, the user applies an opposite lateral pulling force to the slats 14, 16 to move them away from the line of symmetry 78. 

I claim:
 1. Retaining device for use with two elongated slats longitudinally located in a chain linked fence, said device comprising: a cap member having a distal panel, a proximal panel and an intermediate panel interconnecting said distal and said proximal panels; a guide rail connected to said distal panel and extending along a portion of said distal panel; and each elongated slat having a notch located in a portion of a slat end, said notch being of sufficient size to cooperate with said guide rail and to slide thereover along a restricted path of travel and to be retained thereon.
 2. The device, according to claim 1, in which said guide rail includes first and second spaced apart stop ends.
 3. The device, according to claim 2, in which said guide rail further includes: a guide rail edge; and first and second retainer lips connected to said guide rail edge at about 90 degrees.
 4. The device, according to claim 3, in which said guide rail is connected to said distal panel at about 90 degrees.
 5. The device, according to claim 2, in which said first and second stop ends engage respective notches in a retaining configuration.
 6. The device, according to claim 5, in which each notch is defined by first and second notch sidewalls and a notch blind end to abut one of said stop ends in said retaining configuration.
 7. The device, according to claim 6, in which said first and second notch sidewalls frictionally engage said guide rail.
 8. The device, according to claim 6, in which said notch blind end is located generally centrally of the wide portion of said slat.
 9. The device, according to claim 2, in which said guide rail is of sufficient size to accommodate elongated slats of various dimensions.
 10. The device, according to claim 3, in which said intermediate panel includes: first and second intermediate panel edges; and a third retainer lip connected to said first intermediate panel edge at about 90 degrees and depends therefrom.
 11. The device, according to claim 10, in which said distal panel is connected to said second intermediate panel edge at about 90 degrees.
 12. The device, according to claim 10, in which said proximal panel is connected to said intermediate panel at a location generally equidistant between said first and second intermediate panel edges.
 13. The device, according to claim 12, in which said proximal panel is connected perpendicular to said intermediate panel.
 14. The device, according to claim 10, in which said first, second and third retainer lips are axially aligned.
 15. The device, according to claim 10, in which said distal panel includes first and second distal panel side edges and a distal panel bottom edge, said first and second stop ends being located away from said first and second panel edges.
 16. The device, according to claim 15, in which said first and second stop ends are located equidistant from said first and second distal panel side edges.
 17. The device, according to claim 16, in which said first and second stop ends being located adjacent said first and second distal panel side edges, said edges being of a length narrower than the intermediate panel length.
 18. The device, according to claim 15, in which said guide rail is located generally equidistant between said distal panel bottom edge and said intermediate panel.
 19. The device, according to claim 18, in which said intermediate panel has a length, which is longer than said guide rail.
 20. The device, according to claim 13, in which said proximal panel includes two concave side edges and a convex upper edge.
 21. The device, according to claim 1, in which said elongated slats are solid.
 22. The device, according to claim 1, in which said elongated slats are hollow.
 23. The device, according to claim 1, in which said cap is sized to be located over both slats when in said retaining configuration. 